Christian Pulisic's international scoring drought, stretching to eight appearances, remains a critical issue for Mauricio Pochettino as the USMNT prepares for the 2026 World Cup. The AC Milan striker's lack of goals, last scoring on November 19, 2024, is compounded by his ineffective central striker role against Portugal, where he created only 20 touches compared to 39 against Japan. Pochettino must decide Pulisic's optimal position, likely returning him to a No. 10 role alongside Folarin Balogun, to maximize both players' impact.

This tactical choice is vital for the team's attacking options, especially with Reyna's inclusion uncertain and the need for a reliable attacking spark off the bench.